Automobile-signal



S. PAINTMAIER. AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1919.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS invention consists in certain novel features SEBASTIAN PAINTMAIEBL, 01 GXPABID, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMQBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Application filed October is. 1919. Serial No. 331,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Sneasrrax PAINT- )IAIER, a citizen of the United States, and .a resident of Oxnard, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented anew and Improved Automobile-Signal, o'f which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile signals, and more particularly to a signaling device which is adapted to be secured to any convenient part of an automobile and operated by the chauffeur to indicate to other cars his intention as to the manipulation of his car.

In ordinary practice the hand or arm is used'to indicate the intention of the chauffour to cars in the rear, and it is the purpose of my invention to provide a device which can be readily operated to clearly signal such intention.

A further object is to provide a signalin device employing semaphore signals with improved means for operating the semaphores from an inclosed casing to a horizontally extended position and secure the semaphore in either of said positions.

A further object is to prev Tie a signaling device which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price, which will occupy but little space, which will not disfigure the car, which will be strong and durable in use, and which will most efiiciently perform. the functions for which it is intended. With these'and other objects in view the of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described. and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawihgs- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section illustrating my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse vertical section on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1'; and

Fig. 4 is afragmentary face view showing the arrangement of buttons.

1 represents a casing which may be of any suitable material and is preferably of oblong shape. A transversely positioned rod 2 is secured in the upper portion of the cas ing and on this red 2 a series of semaphores A, B and C are pivotally mounted and are spaced apart by meansof spacing collars 4.

It is, of course. apparent that the invention is not limited to any particular number of semaphores with their operating mecha nisms, nor to the particular captions or manner of coloring or otherwise decorating the semaphores to convey the signaling intent1on. Three of such semaphore arms will,

' however, answer all practical purposes and a convenient means of indicating the intention of the operator is to provide the words Left, Stop and Right on the respective semaphores.

The casing 1 operates as an inclosure for the semaphores when they are in vertical posit-ion and one wall is slotted, as shown at-v mechanisms for each of the semaphores is precisely alike, the description hereinafter of one complete mechanism will apply alike to all. I

A sliding plunger 10, preferably rectangular in cross-section, is mounted to move through the casing 1 and is supported on a platform 12 within the casing. The plunger 10 is connected by a pair of links 13 with the upper end of lever 7 and a block 14 is fixed in the upper end of the casing and is suficiently narrow to allow the links 13 free movement at opposite sides thereof.

The block 14: supports a pin 15, which at its lower end projects into alongitudinal groove ;16 in the plunger 10 and as the plunger fits between the lower end of the block 14: and the platform 12, it is held against any movement except a longitudinal one.

The plunger 10 is provided in its lower face with a socket 17 adapted, when the plunger is drawn outwardly, to move into position to receive a ball 18 upwardly pressed by means of a spring 19 in a housin 20 carried by platform 12 so that this ball operates as a catch to'engage the plunger and hold the parts against accidental movethe captions of the semaphores to be operated.

The operation is as follows: hen it is desired to signal the proper plunger 10 is drawn outward and, through the medium of the links 13, the lever 7 will be swung on its pivot and its lower end will force the semaphore to a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 1. \Vhen the semaphore reaches the horizontal position, the ball'18 will spring into the socket 17 and maintain the parts in this position until the plunger is again forced inwardly when the semaphore will fall to a verticalposition and the tooth 8 on the end of the lever 7 will move into the notch'9 in the end of the semaphore and hold the latter against accidental swinging movement.

Various slight changes may be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim;

1. A signaling device of the character stated, comprising a casing, a plurality of semaphores pivotally mounted in the casing and movable through the casing, a pivoted lever for each semaphore projecting above and below the pivot point of the semaphore, a sliding plunger for each semaphore, links connecting the plungers and the levers, and said levers adapted, when the plungers are moved outwardly, to engage the semaphores and force them'out of the casing.

2-. A signaling device of the character stated, comprising a casing, a plurality of semaphores pivotally mounted in the casing,

, a curved lever for each semaphore, said levers pivotally supported between their ends and projecting above and below the pivot points of the semaphores, one end of the leerating the levers.

3. A signaling device of the character stated, comprlsmg a casing, a plurality of semaphores pivotally mountedin the casing,

a curved lever for each semaphore, said levers plvotally supported between thelr ends and projecting above and below the pivotpoints of the semaphores, one end of the lever adapted to engage the semaphore and force the latter outwardly from the casing and the-other end of said lever adapted toengage the end of the semaphore, when the latter is in the casing, and hold the semaphore against movement, a plunger for each lever, and links connecting the plungers and the levers.

4. A signaling device of the character stated, comprising a casing, a-plurality of semaphores pivotally mounted in the casing, a curved lever for each semaphore, said levers pivotally supported between their ends and projecting above and below the pivot points of the semaphores, one end of the lever adapted to engage the semaphore and force the latter outwardly from the casing and the other end of said lever adapted to engage the end of the semaphore, when the latter is in the casing, and hold the semaphore against movement, a plunger for each lever, links connectingthe plungers and the levers, and means for holding the plunger in a position to project the semaphore.

5. A signaling device of the character stated, comprising a casing, semaphores normally in the casing, curved levers pivotally mounted between their ends and projecting above and below the pivot points of the semaphores, one end of a lever engaging the side of the semaphore, whereby the movement of the lever in one direction operates to project the semaphore from the casing, said semaphores having notches in their ends, said levers having teeth at their :ends adapted to engage in the said notches and hold the semaphores in the casing, and

means for operating the levers.

6'. A signaling device of the character stated, comprising a casing having slotsv blocks, links connecting the levers and the plungers, and means for preventing turning movement of the plungers.

7. A signaling device 'of the character stated, comprising a casing having slots therein, semaphores pivotally mounted in the casing and movable throughsaid slots, levers operatively connected with the semaphores, a platform in the casing, blocks in the casing spaced from the platform, plungers movable between the platform and the blocks, links connecting the levers and the ,plungers, said plungers having longitudinal grooves therein, and pins in the blocks proectmg into the grooves.

8. A signaling device of the character stated. comprising a casing having slots therein, semaphores pivot-ally'mounted in the casing and movable through said slots, levers operatively connected with the semaphores, a platform in the casing, blocks in the casing spaced from the plat-form. plungers movable between the platform and the blocks, linl's connecting the levers and the plungers. each plunger having a notch in its lower face. and spring pressed balls carried by the platform and adapted to engage in said notches when the plungers are drawn outwardly.

9. A signaling device of the character 1 stated, comprising a casing having slots therein, semaphores pivotally mounted in the casing and movable through the slots, levers for moving the semaphores. said 1evers pivotallv supported between their ends 2 and extending their ends above and below the pivot points of the semaphores, plungers movable through the casing and operatively connected with the lever". bin tons on the outer ends of the plungers, and 2 said buttons and semaphores containing captions correspondinw with each other.

SEBASTIAN PAINTMAIER. 

